Michael Flynn's security clearance has reportedly been suspended

Then-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn arrives for the President Donald Trump, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe joint new conference in the East Room of the White House, in Washington, Friday, Feb. 10, 2017. AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

The Defense Intelligence Agency has suspended former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn's security clearance, CNN reported, pending a review of his communication with the Russian ambassador to the US while he was still a private citizen in December.

Bloomberg's Eli Lake also reported that Flynn's clearance has been suspended.

On Friday, Democratic Senators Richard Blumenthal and Jeanne Shaheen, both members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, wrote Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo requesting a review Flynn's security clearance, following revelations that he discussed US sanctions on Russia with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak before President Donald Trump was sworn in.

Other top Democrats, including Sen. Chuck Schumer, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, and Rep. Elijah Cummings, called for Flynn's clearance to be revoked shortly thereafter.

"We have asked for and demand an independent investigation of what Flynn's discussions were with the Russian ambassador and all others," Schumer told reporters at a press conference on Monday. "His security clearance ought to be withdrawn until that independent investigation is completed."

Security clearance can be suspended or revoked at any time, but the decision can be appealed.

Flynn resigned on Monday, four days after The Washington Post and The New York Times reported — together citing nearly a dozen current and former officials — that he had spoken with Kislyak about sanctions while he was still a private citizen, despite Flynn's repeated denials that anything sensitive was discussed on the calls.

"General Flynn's abysmally bad judgment and possible‎ law breaking makes his access to classified information completely unacceptable," Sen. Blumenthal said in a statement. "Reviewing his security clearance is unquestionably necessary. I hope the Defense Intelligence Agency will not only temporarily suspend General Flynn's clearance, but undertake a comprehensive assessment and take appropriate permanent action."

The White House was apparently briefed on the content of Flynn's calls on January 23, when Sally Yates, then the acting attorney general — backed by the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the director of national intelligence — reportedly warned the president that Flynn could be blackmailed by the Kremlin, which knew about the secret conversations.

Vice President Mike Pence, who was not informed of the DOJ's warning until February 9, was reportedly "incensed" at Flynn for misleading him about the calls, The New York Times reported on Monday. Pence had defended Flynn in an interview with CBS on January 15, saying he "didn't discuss anything having to do with the United States' decision to expel diplomats or impose censure against Russia."

Intelligence officials began looking into potential contact between Trump's transition team and Russian officials in December when Russian President Vladimir Putin decided not to retaliate against sanctions introduced by the Obama administration. Officials discovered that Flynn called Kislyak the day President Barack Obama imposed the new penalties and gave him "the impression that the sanctions would be revisited at a later time."